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Risk Assessment of Benzene, Toluene, Ethyl Benzene, and Xylene Concentrations from the Combustion of Coal in a Controlled Laboratory Environment

Author

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  • Masilu Daniel Masekameni

    (Occupational Health Division, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Parktown 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa
    Department of Geography, Environmental Management and Energy Studies, University of Johannesburg, Aukland Park 2006, Johannesburg, South Africa)

  • Raeesa Moolla

    (School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag X3, WITS 2050, South Africa)

  • Mary Gulumian

    (National Institute for Occupational Health, National Health Laboratory Services, Braamfontein 2001, Johannesburg, South Africa
    Haematology and Molecular Medicine, School of Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand, Parktown 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa)

  • Derk Brouwer

    (Occupational Health Division, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Parktown 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa)

Abstract

A D-grade type coal was burned under simulated domestic practices in a controlled laboratory set-up, in order to characterize the emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs); namely, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX). Near-field concentrations were collected in a shack-like structure constructed using corrugated iron, simulating a traditional house found in informal settlements in South Africa (SA). Measurements were carried out using the Synspec Spectras GC955 real-time monitor over a three-hour burn cycle. The 3-h average concentrations (in µg/m 3 ) of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, p-xylene, and o-xylene were 919 ± 44, 2051 ± 91, 3838 ±19, 4245 ± 41 and 3576 ± 49, respectively. The cancer risk for adult males and females in a typical SA household exposure scenario was found to be 1.1 and 1.2 respectively, which are 110- and 120-fold higher than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated risk severity indicator (1 × 10 −6 ). All four TEX (toluene, ethylbenzene, p-xylene and o-xylene) compounds recorded a Hazard Quotient (HQ) of less than 1, indicating a low risk of developing related non-carcinogenic health effects. The HQ for TEX ranged from 0.001 to 0.05, with toluene concentrations being the lowest, and ethylbenzene the highest. This study has demonstrated that domestic coal burning may be a significant source of BTEX emission exposure.

Suggested Citation

  • Masilu Daniel Masekameni & Raeesa Moolla & Mary Gulumian & Derk Brouwer, 2018. "Risk Assessment of Benzene, Toluene, Ethyl Benzene, and Xylene Concentrations from the Combustion of Coal in a Controlled Laboratory Environment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-18, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2018:i:1:p:95-:d:194109
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Benjamin Edokpolo & Qiming Jimmy Yu & Des Connell, 2014. "Health Risk Assessment of Ambient Air Concentrations of Benzene, Toluene and Xylene (BTX) in Service Station Environments," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-21, June.
    2. Kenichi Azuma & Iwao Uchiyama & Koichi Ikeda, 2007. "The Risk Screening for Indoor Air Pollution Chemicals in Japan," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(6), pages 1623-1638, December.
    3. Garg, Amit, 2011. "Pro-equity Effects of Ancillary Benefits of Climate Change Policies: A Case Study of Human Health Impacts of Outdoor Air Pollution in New Delhi," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 39(6), pages 1002-1025, June.
    4. Benjamin Edokpolo & Qiming Jimmy Yu & Des Connell, 2015. "Health Risk Assessment for Exposure to Benzene in Petroleum Refinery Environments," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-16, January.
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    3. John Friesen & Victoria Friesen & Ingo Dietrich & Peter F. Pelz, 2020. "Slums, Space, and State of Health—A Link between Settlement Morphology and Health Data," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-28, March.

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